Here comes the Sun King: Running a party the Trudeau way

iPolitics Insights

L’etat, c’est moi. That quip is usually attributed to King Louis XIV, who reigned over 17th and 18th century France for an impressive 77 years. The implication was that the king ruled alone — he had no need to build consensus, seek approval, or even inform anyone of his decisions beforehand. And the Sun King was true to his word: Upon assuming the throne, he ditched his first minister and built a palace at Versailles, to pack his court with loyalists and keep an eye out for any possible plots.

Acting without consultation — and defending those actions with the line, “I am a leader” — has become a hallmark of Trudeau’s style this past year. First, in January, in the throes of the Mike Duffy Senate scandal, he kicked all 32 Liberal senators out of caucus. At the time, it seemed like a masterstroke — a means of moving forward on the Senate while other leaders appeared incapable of action. Like many other observers, yours truly applauded his decision. Never mind that senators were grumbling — the Senate wasn’t exactly beloved and there was little sympathy going around for senators anyway.

But the senators weren’t upset simply because they’d lost their caucus affiliation — they were upset because Trudeau dumped the news on them without any consultation, word or warning. One minute they were in the caucus room — the next they were booted out into the hall. “This wasn’t about personal relationships,” Trudeau said at the time. “This was about doing the right thing.” Of course, it would have been possible to do both if he’d made a few phone calls ahead of time. Apparently he was in a rush.

Did he speak to pro-life MPs before issuing his fatwa? Did he reach out to prospective Liberal candidates who held such views, to let them know of the party’s change in policy? No. Instead, he announced it to the media.

In May, Trudeau issued his edict on abortion. “I have made it clear that future candidates need to be completely understanding that they will be expected to vote pro-choice on any bills,” he stated. He claimed to be defending a woman’s right to choose; the right to hold one’s own opinion, apparently, came a distant second. Many Liberals, including former MP Tom Wappel, were shocked. “This is the antithesis of the Liberal party which I have supported and worked for the better part of my adult life … Such a unilateral decree is an affront to the historical principles of liberalism,” Wappel wrote in the National Post.

As significant as Trudeau’s decision was, the way in which he announced it is equally important. Did he speak to pro-life MPs before issuing his fatwa? Did he reach out to prospective Liberal candidates who held such views, to let them know of the party’s change in policy? No. Instead, he announced it to the media. It was l’Etat c’est moi, part deux.

Which brings us to Trudeau’s latest leadership-by-press-conference — the expulsion of MPs Massimo Pacetti and Scott Andrews from the Liberal caucus over accusations of personal misconduct made by two unnamed NDP MPs. “It’s 2014 — we have a duty to protect and encourage individuals in these situations to come forward,” said Trudeau, giving the “benefit of the doubt” to the two men’s accusers.

In a subsequent media availability in Alberta, Trudeau stated — four times, in case anyone missed it — that he had to act because of his role as leader. Never mind that the need to “act” did not necessitate this action — expulsion without explanation. Never mind that the complainants had not wanted their accusations to be made public. As for personal relationships — including the trust one of the complainants presumably put in Trudeau by approaching him directly – again, those appeared to be secondary to Trudeau’s need to show “leadership.”

Ruling is always easier without dissent, of course. And what king wouldn’t want to slay the Senate dragon, defend the honour of women and strike down those accused of defiling them? Trudeau may claim good intentions, but everyone knows where a road paved with good intentions leads. Our democracy needs fewer Sun Kings, not more.

Tasha Kheiriddin is a political writer and broadcaster who frequently comments in both English and French. In her student days, Tasha was active in youth politics in her hometown of Montreal, eventually serving as national policy director and then president of the Progressive Conservative Youth Federation of Canada. After practising law and a stint in the government of Mike Harris, Tasha became the Ontario director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and co-wrote the 2005 bestseller, Rescuing Canada’s Right: Blueprint for a Conservative Revolution. Tasha moved back to Montreal in 2006 and served as vice-president of the Montreal Economic Institute, and later director for Quebec of the Fraser Institute, while also lecturing on conservative politics at McGill University. Tasha now lives in Whitby, Ontario with her daughter Zara, born in 2009.

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